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FINAL REPORT 



^->- 



OF THE COMMISSION 
TO PROVIDE FOR A 

MONUMENT TO THE 
MEMORY OF :: :: :: 



IVadc Hampton 



^ 



Columbia, S. C. 

GONZALES AND BRYAN 

State Printers 

1906-07 



FINAL REPORT 

OF THE COMMISSION 
TO PROVIDE FOR A 
MONUMENT TO THE 
MEMORY OF :: :: :: 



Wade Hampton 



^ 



Columbia, S, C. 

GONZALES AND BRYAN 

State Printers 

IQ05-07 



4- .1 1 



REPORT 



Columbia, S. C, December 21, 1906, 
To His Excellency, D. C. Heyward, Governor of South Carolina. 

Sir: The Commission appointed by your Excellency under the 
provisions of "An Act to provide lor a Monurnwnt to the Memory 
of Wade Hampton" have fully set forth in their report of February 
17, 1904, the means they employed in securing the voluntary sub 
scriptions required by the Act, before the amount appropriated by 
the State became available for the work ; and they further report 
as follows : 

After a careful consideration of the relative merits and availability 
of a number of American sculptors of high rank and reputation they 
invited from among these, Mr. Frederick Wellington Ruckstuhl, of 
New York, who had been most highly recommended to them, to 
come to Columbia for a conference with the Commission. They 
discussed the matter with him in all its aspects and, deciding to 
secure his services, entered into a contract with him for the con- 
struction and erection of the equestrian statue of General Hampton, 
provided for by the Act at and for the sum of $38,000.00, no part 
of which was payable until the statue should be completed and 
erected on the Capitol grounds at Columbia. 

The statue was constructed by Mr. Ruckstuhl in Paris, was com- 
pleted in the month of Septeanber, 1906, and was brought to America 
and erected on the Capitol grounds in the month of October, 1906. 

The Commission, after viewing and critically examining the 
monument, were thoroughly satisfied with it, and thereupon passed 
the following resolutions with reference thereto : 

"Be it resolved by the Commission : 

"First. That we accept from Mr. Frederick Wellington Ruck- 
stuhl, the equestrian statue of Gen. Wade Hampton, as it now stands 
erected on the Capitol grounds at Columbia, as a full and satisfac- 
tory performance of his contract with this Commission. 

"Second. That we here record our hearty approval of the com- 
pleted statue as a genuine work of art, a most impressive and im- 
posing monument, and a faithful and lifelike representation of the 
face and form of the illustrious soldier, statesman and citizen, whose 
memory it is designed to perpetuate. 



6 

"Third. That we congratulate Mr. Ruckstuhl on the splendid 
success he has achieved, and hereby express our high appreciation 
of him as an artist of the highest rank." 

The 20th of November, 1906, was selected as the day for the 
unveiling ceremonies. Gen. M. C. Butler was invited to deliver the 
address of the occasion, and his Excellency, Governor D. C. Hey- 
ward, was asked to receive the monument on behalf of the State. 

The Legislature, the Chief Executive and the Judiciary were 
invited to attend, as were also our two Senators and all our Con- 
gressmen. Like invitations were also extended to the surviving 
generals of the Confederacy, the Governors of all the Southern 
States, the Confederate veterans, the Daughters of the Confederacy 
and the Sons of Confederate Veterans within this State, the faculties 
and students of the Citadel, Clemson College, University of South 
Carolina, Daughters of Confederates' Home of Charleston and the 
other educational institutions of the State, and to the citizens of 
South Carolina generally. 

Maj. Theodore G. Barker, of Charleston, Adjutant General of 
General Hampton during the war, by invitation of the Commission, 
acted as chief marshal of the occasion ; and Gen. John D. Frost, by 
request, acted as his assistant. Columbia was filled to overflowing; 
and men, women and children came from every portion of the State 
and vied with each other in doing honor to the memory of South 
Carolina's greatest citizen. 

The parade was one of the largest and most impressive ever wit- 
nessed in Columbia, and Main street and the Capitol grounds were 
packed with spectators. 

The parade was formed at the upper end of Main street by the 
chief marshal and his assistant. Gen. John D. Frost, and proceeded 
to the Capitol grounds. 

After a prayer by Bishop Capers, the monument was unveiled by 
four little girls, three of whom were General Hampton's grand- 
daughters and one his great grand-daughter, and was received from 
the Commission by Governor Heyward on behalf of the State. Gen. 
Butler made a most eloquent and stirring address to the listen- 
ing thousands who were crowded on and around the spacious plat- 
form erected for the occasion — and the ceremonies of the day were 
over. The great assemblage slowly retired with many a backward 
glance at the bronze image of him they loved so well. 

The Commission desire to extend their grateful thanks to Gen. 
Frost, Gen. Wilie Jones, Capt. W. D. Starling, Col. U. R. Brooks, 



and the Wade Hampton Chapter Daughters of the Confederacy, and 
the Columbia Board of Trade, for their vahiable assistance in the 
conduct of the unveiUng ceremonies. 

In conclusion, it is our sad and painful duty to report the decease 
of two members of our Commission during the progress of the 
work. The Hon. C. S. McCall died on January 1, 1905, and the 
Hon. Altamont Moses died in December, 1905. These gentle- 
men rendered invaluable service to the Commission, and the under- 
signed, their fellows and friends, deeply regret that an All-Wise 
Providence did not see fit to permit them to witness the fruition of 
their labor — the completion of the work they had so much at heart. 
Mr. Mclver Williamson was appointed to succeed Mr. McCall 
and Mr. Richard I. Manning was appointed to succeed Mr. Moses. 
The Commission attach hereto an itemized statement of their re- 
ceipts and disbursements, showing an unexpended balance of $322.62, 
for which they hand you their check herewith. They also append 
as a part of this their final report, copies of the admirable speeches 
made on the occasion of the unveiling. All of which is respectfully 
submitted. 

J. Q. MARSHALL, Chairman, 

B. A. MORGAN, 

E. M. SEABROOK, 

A. McIVER WILLIAMSON, 

RICHARD I. MANNING. 



Financial Statement 

AMOUNT COLLECTED. 

By Legislative Appropriation $20,000 00 

By Voluntary Subscriptions 9,961 89 

$29,961 89 

AMOUNT DISBURSED. 

To F. W. Ruckstuhl, Sculptor $28,000 00 

To Expenses of Commission 1,639 27 

To Balance on Hand 322 62 $29,961 89 

ITEMIZED FINANCIAL STATEMENT. 

RECEIPTS BY COUNTIES. 

Abbeville $ 10 00 

Aiken 47 50 

Anderson 417 57 

Bamberg 163 00 

Barnwell 59 90 

Beaufort 35 00 

Berkeley 35 00 

Ch^l^liii^ 1,094 01 

Cherokee 65 15 

Chester 178 27 

Chesterfield 2 99 

Clarendon 131 35 

Colleton 70 00 

Darlington 1,000 00 

Edgefield IS 00 

Fairfield 81 50 

Florence 73 29 

Georgetown 207 50 

Greenville 368 19 

Greenwood 45 00 

Hampton 110 25 

Horry 53 00 

Kershaw 74 70 

Lancaster 155 91 



9 

Lee $ 30 25 

Laurens 193 81 

Lexing-ton 61 50 

Marion 135 15 

Marlboro 270 20 

Newberry 99 00 

Orangeburg 335 04 

Hampton Bazaar held in Columbia 527 18 

Other contributions from Richland 860 05 

Spartanburg 38 60 

Saluda 40 

Sumter 307 60 

Union 213 96 

Williamsburg 39 35 

York 60 76 

Out of State 144 00 

Sale of Stand 90 00 

Daughters of Confederacy from entire State by Mrs. 

Waring. 1,271 20 

Interest 859 61 

Appropriation by Legislature 20,000 00 

$29,961 89 

DISBURSEMENTS. 

F. W. Ruckstuhl, Sculptor l^JP.^.9.^.* 

1903. 
May 8. Stamps $ 3 00 

13. C. S. McCall, Expense 9 85 

Altamont Moses, Expense 11 50 

E. M. Seabrook, Expense 20 70 

B. A. Morgan, Expense 17 12 

Nov. 21. Stamps 5 00 

25. Leach, Typewriting 2 00 

Dec. 10. J. Q. Marshall, Expense, Charleston, attending 

meeting Commission 12 20 

12. C. S. McCall, attending meeting Commission. ... 4 00 

14. Altamont Moses, attending meeting Commission. 12 00 
1904. 

Jan. 15. E. M. Seabrook, attending meeting Commission . . 1 75 

Feb. 6. Miss Hawes, Typewriting 1 20 

29. Record, Advertising 2 50 



10 

June 13. Miss Hawes, Typewriting $ 3 35 

17. Altamont Moses, Expense 3 35 

18. B. A. Morgan, Expense 12 57 

32. C. S. McCall, Expense 1 50 

24. Stamps 1 00 

25. Miss Hawes, Typewriting 3 50 

Sept. 1. Stamps 1 00 

6. Miss Hawes, Typewriting 1 85 

Oct. 19. Altamont Moses, Expense 4 00 

E. M. Seabrook, Expense 32 63 

B. A. Morgan, Expense 14 32 

23. C. S. McCall, Expense 3 00 

31. Miss Hawes, Typewriting 2 00 

Dec. 3. Stamps 1 00 

5. Stamps 3 00 

6. Miss Hawes, Typewriting 3 50 

23. W. U. Tel. Co 1 59 

1905. 

Feb. 33. Miss Hawes, Typewriting 5 00 

May 11. R. L. Bryan Co., Stationery 3 50 

15. E. M. Seabrook, Expense 18 00 

16. Altamont Moses, Expense 3 00 

30. Mclver Williamson, Expense 5 90 

Nov. 4 3 79 

1906. 

April 7. E. M. Seabrook, Expense 17 34 

9. Record Publishing Co., Advertising 4 00 

10. R. I. Manning, Expense 5 00 

13. Mclver Williamson, Expense 6 33 

16. State Co., Advertising 3 50 

31. Miss Shaflfer, Typewriting 1 50 

May 3. Postal Tel. Co 4 65 

4. W. U. Tel. Co 3 41 

5. W. U. Tel. Co 4 65 

Sept. 11. R. L. Bryan Co., Stationery 1 00 

Oct. 3. R. L. Bryan Co., Stationery 9 55 

3. W. U. Tel. Co 1 09 

18. Miss Shaffer, Typewriting 3 85 

33. R. L. Bryan Co., Stationery 1 00 

Nov. 7. E. M. Seabrook, Expense 18 74 

8. R. I. Manning. Expense 13 75 



11 

Nov. 10. Wallace, Sand for Monument $ 6 00 

12. B. A. Morgan, Expense 15 33 

13. McFaddin, Stamps 10 00 

14. Wilie Jones, Return of Contribution 100 00 

17. John T. Gaston, Building Stand 40 00 

19. John T. Gaston, Building Stand 25 00 

21. H. Gabell, Decorating Stand 30 00 

22. Palmetto National Bank, Band 100 00 

Miss Shaffer, Typewriting 5 00 

VanMetre, Chairs 25 00 

23. Shand Builders' Supply Co., Lumber for Stand. . 171 04 

McFaddin, Services 25 00 

R. L. Bryan Co., Invitations and Badges 412 10 

24. Todd, Expense Band from Charleston 54 60 

Eaton, Watchman at Monument 24 00 

26. Miss McClintock, Dinner Confederate Home Girls 21 50 
Gilliard, Carriages 6 00 

27. Stamps 2 00 

Strickland Livery Co., Carriages 3 00 

Collins, Drayage 53 90 

28. B. A. Morgan, Expense 14 57 

30, Martin's Stables, Carriages 16 00 

Dec. 3. Mimnaugh, Veil for Monument 40 10 

4. John D. Frost, Loading and Reloading Cannon 

and Freight 15 75 

Postal Tel. Co 1 00 

Martin's Stables, Carriages 6 00 

Hotel Jerome, Board Gen. M. C. Butler 34 50 

McFaddin, Preparing Financial Statement and 

Report 20 00 

N. W. Brooker, Commissions, Paid by Gen. 

Wilie Jones 16 18 

A. Moses, Expense 4 00 

E. M. Seabrook, Expense 13 00 

Miss Hawes, Typewriting 3 25 

Mclver Williamson, Expense 6 19 

Mclver Williamson, Expense 6 50 

R. I. Manning, Expense 9 00 

Cash on hand 322 62 

$29,961 89 



12 



Speeches Made at the Unveiling 



SPEECH BY HON. M. A. MORGAN. 

"Governor Heyward: The Commission you appointed by virtue of 
an Act of the General Assembly to erect an equestrian statue to the 
memory of Wade Hampton has discharged that duty, and wishes to 
make its final report to you. 

"We were so pleased with the honor of the appointment that we 
failed for the moment to grasp the extent of the responsibility 
imposed. As was natural, we hastened to the perfomiance of an 
agreeable undertaking and procured the Act of the General Assem- 
bly to make it our chart in the task set before us. You can imagine 
our sense of helplessness when we found that the Act contained no 
hint or suggestion of what the monument should be, save that it 
must be equestrian. 

"We realized that the memory of the great chieftain, an illustrious 
warrior, the hero of an hundred battle fields, must find expression 
in that statue; that the Hampton of Reconstruction, the Hampton 
of '76, the Hampton as Governor, and in the Senate of the United 
States — citizen, statesman and the leader and the loved of all Caro- 
lina's yeomanry — must be crystalized and perpetuated in the monu- 
ment that we build. 

"The wide world of the sculptor's art lay before us ; myriads of 
forms and figures, phantom-like, sprang into view, but out of the 
vastness of it all we carved yonder statue, and in the fulfillment 
of the duty assigned us, we present it to you and through you to 
the people of the State." 

GOVERNOR HEYWARD'S SPEECH. 

Mr. Chairman and my fellow-citizens : This occasion brings to- 
gether patriotic citizens from every section of South Carolina. Busy 
men have left all the important aflfairs which absorb their time and 
attention — they have left all to come to the Capital of their State 
and to take part in the exercises which will again do honor to the 
memory of Carolina's greatest son. 

This occasion brings together from every college in our State 
delegations of young men and maidens, the future hope of our 



13 

country. They have left their duties and have come with college 
presidents, officers and teachers, not only to have the privilege of 
sharing in these exercises, but that they may once more gather 
inspiration from the life and deeds of him whose monument now 
stands unveiled before us in all its splendor. 

To-day we have with us many of the soldier boys of South Caro- 
lina. They march with bands playing and with hearts beating 
with soldierly pride, these sons of sires who with Wade Hampton, 
under the Stars and Bars, fought and bled for the Lost Cause, and 
whose deeds of heroism gave glory to Southern manhood and 
Southern patriotism, and "advanced the world in honor." 

And gathered here are the noble women of our State, once more 
to pay their faithful and loving tribute to our great leader, and in 
so doing to inspire Southern chivalry with the purest and loftiest 
inspirations ever given to brave men. They have come, these 
fair daughters of South Carolina, matrons and maids, and by their 
presence hallow these exercises, while the light of a sacred love 
shines in their eyes as they turn their gaze from the bronze horse and 
its bronze rider to yonder oak beneath whose shade lies the old 
cavalier in the dreamless sleep that knows no waking. 

And with us to-day are many of the men who wore the gray, the 
unfaltering, self-sacrificing, glory-crowned veterans of the Southern 
Confederacy. Here are gathered a few of the survivors of the im- 
mortal Hampton Legion — ^that band of cavalrymen, who, in all his 
battles, in the rushing whirlwind of the charge, amidst the blinding 
smoke and the flashing sabres, followed the plume of Hampton, 
more valiantly than ever Frenchmen followed the helmet of Navarre. 
Pride should be with those old soldiers to-day, for in honoring 
Hampton we honor them, and the honor which is his will be shared 
by those whom he lead. Together they fought for home and 
country, and fame has no greater heritage for any than the halo of 
glory which belongs to the gray knights of the Hampton Legion. 

There are here representatives of all that has made our State 
great and honored in the past. With these are such memories as 
can only belong to such a people — memories of peace and of war ; 
memories of hope and of despair ; memories, alas ! of defeat, but 
fadeless memories of glory and honor. And so, in behalf of South 
Carolina, in behalf of all that we as a people hold dear; by our 
memories of the past and our hopes for the future ; by all that 
Hampton did for the State he loved so well. Senator Marshall and 
gentlemen of the Commission, I, as Governor, proudly accept this 



14 

magnificent bronze statue of our great warrior and statesman, 
whose cherished memory it will be the pride of South Carolinians 
to transmit to their children's children through all generations yet 
to come. 

And now, my countrymen, I have only to add words that are 
unnecessary for a South Carolina audience. It is meet and proper 
that on this occasion extended tribute should be paid to a life given 
in service to his State; it is meet and proper that some of the 
deeds both in peace and war which added lustre to the name of 
Hampton, even as they added renown to the State, should be re- 
counted to-day. 

And could 3^onder silent bronze figure speak ; could the voice of 
friendship be heard once more, and the spirit of him who sleeps so 
quietly in old Trinity churchyard inspire us — all of these would ask 
that only one who had stood side by side with him in peace and in 
war, in victory and in defeat, in sunshine and in shadow, should 
speak to us of Hampton and of his deeds. We have with us one 
who with Hampton wore the uniform of gray ; who rode by his 
side during the four long years of deadly struggle ; who during the 
trying days of Reconstruction worked with him for the redemption 
of our State, and who, when redemption came, sat with him 
for years in the Senate of the United States. Of him Hampton 
once said to a gentleman now seated upon this platform and a mem- 
ber of this Commission: "Butler was the coolest man in danger 
and the grandest man in a fight I ever saw." 

I now take pleasure in presenting to this great concourse Major 
General M. C. Butler, the orator of the day. 

GEN. M. C. BUTLER'S SPEECH. 

The address of Gen. M. C. Butler to the veterans of the Con- 
federacy- and the South Carolinians in general gathered at th( 
unveiling of the monument erected to the memory of Gen. Wade 
Hampton is a contribution to the written history as well as an elo- 
quent tribute to General Hampton and to the Confederate soldiers. 
Following is the address : 

This splendid pageant, made up of the remnant, the survivors 
of the incomparable armies of the Confederacy, reinforced by the 
gallant State National Guard, a later generation of citizen-soldiers, 
and the great concourse of people from all sections of the State, is 
a fitting tribute to the illustrious citizen-soldier and statesman 
whose monument we unveil to-dav. I trust I shall not be charsfed 



15 

with exaggeration or undeserved State pride when I say this Httle 
State of ours has produced, according to population and geographi- 
cal area, as many very distinguished men, who have served their 
country faithfully and well, as any of her sister commonwealths, 
more than many of them. 

No higher encomium can be conferred upon a man than to say 
he was an illustrious citizen of a great State, that State an integral 
part of a constitutional republic of limited powers, founded upon the 
sovereignty of the people, "the consent of the governed," as against 
the sovereignty of the king. 

Such a citizen in such a State is endowed with the "'divine right" 
to rule — and assumes with that right the responsibilities and obliga- 
tions that attach to all rulers in government. 

The object of our profound respect and admiration. General 
Wade Hampton, impersonated by this beautiful and enduring statue, 
was an ideal example of that citizenship to which I have adverted. 
It has been said, and truly said, that no man can properly and 
successfully administer the afifairs of government as a representative 
of sovereign people who has not learned to govern himself. It 
is equally true that there are certain essential qualities of character 
—among them self-respect, self-control, fidelity in the performance 
of duty, integrity and genuine courage — that are indispensable in 
attaining the highest point of true manhood. General Hampton 
was endowed with all these in an eminent degree. The possession 
of them, with a superb presence and an unaffected dignity, enabled 
him to exercise that marvelous control over large bodies of men 
amid turmoil and excitement for which he was so famous. 

I have remarked that this State has produced many very distin- 
guished men. 

In the great forum of debate, when the colonies were preparing 
to secede from the mother country for reasons satisfactory to 
themselves and organize an independent government, founded, as 
I have said, on the sovereignty of the people and administered by 
representatives of the people appointed by them, we find the names 
of Rutledge, Pinckney, Middleton, Pierce Butler, Lowndes and 
Heyward taking a conspicuous and commanding part— contributing 
by their cultivated intellects and patriotic efforts in establishing a 
government experimental in character, therefore untried in the his- 
tory of human governments ; their distinguished colleagues from the 
other colonies co-operating zealously and ably towards a common 
end. 



16 

And when the edict of rebellion and insurrection was hurled 
against them from the British crown, and they took up arms to 
vindicate their action and fight for the independent government they 
had proclaimed to the world, we find added to this galaxy of courage- 
ous patriots the names of Hampton, Pickens, Laurens, Marion, 
Sumter and others less conspicuous but none the less entitled to 
our veneration and respect. 

And later, on the eve and during the second war for independence, 
1812, we find the names of Calhoun, that intellectual prodigy, 
Lowndes, William Butler, Hampton, and some of those before 
mentioned, representing the State with surpassing ability in the 
civic and military tribunals — always among the foremost in vindicat- 
ing the rights of the people, the States and the Federal government. 
And further on down the course of time, when that intellectual battle 
between intellectual giants arose and was conducted in the national 
arena over the powers of the State and Federal governments under 
their respective written Constitutions and their proper Constitution, 
we may add the names of Hayne and Poinsett, Legare and Pickens, 
and McDuffie, Butler, Elmore, Rhett, Barnwell, Thompson, Pres- 
ton, Hammond, Brooks, Bonham, Chesnut and others who illumine 
the political history of the times by their ardent patriotism, surpass- 
ing talents, irresistible oratory and finished scholarship. 

This, of course, is an incomplete roll call of the great men who 
in the past reflected so much honor and credit on themselves and 
their State, South Carolinians may well pride themselves on the 
record made by her distinguished sons in the legislative, executive 
and judicial departments of the government. State and Federal, in 
the diplomatic and military service, in the learned professions, in the 
ministry and industrial pursuits. 

This brings us to the period, 1860, when the political debate 
ended, and the controversy conducted with so much ability, acrimony 
and finally bitterness on both sides as to the powers of the Federal 
and State government was adjourned to the battle field. 

General Hampton did not subscribe to the doctrine of the separate 
State action by South Carolina to secede from the Union alone on 
the election of an anti-slavery President, but he did believe that 
allegiance to his State was paramount to allegiance to the Federal 
government, and when the issue was fairly joined as to what was 
the correct interpretation of the respective contentions and it was 
decided to settle the controversy with the sword, he did not hesitate 
as to his duty. 



17 

Contemporaneous opinion of the right or wrong, the justification 
or otherwise of secession, is of no great vahie. We are all on both 
sides of that question amenable to the influences of environment, 
pride of opinion, bias or, if you please, prejudice. When the body 
of the controversy, if I may be permitted such an expression, is 
placed on the dissecting table, in years to come, in the hands of a 
cold, dispassionate, political, historical SQ'ientist, he will decide 
upon the evidence, and render a verdict accordingly. For one, I 
am willing to abide by the finding. If in less than a half century 
after the event, the trend of political power towards centralization 
in the Federal government, and in like proportion has minimized 
the powers and influence of the States and people, it requires no 
great stretch of prophetic opinion to say, what the next half century 
will bring forth, and how wise and far-seeing the statesman and 
publicist were who struggled against such a tendency. 

My countrymen, if you could have been with me forty-five years 
ago last June, at a point about three miles north of where we now 
stand, you could have seen the martial figure of Wade Hampton, 
about forty-three years of age, in the plenitude of his vigorous 
manhood, organizing, equipping, preparing for active duty in the 
field, a body of as fine soldiers — the Hampton Legion — as ever 
shouldered a musket, drew a saber or handled a sponge-stafif. 

The legion was composed of eight companies O'f infantry, four 
troops of cavalry and two batteries of horse artillery — the very 
flower and pick of the patriotism and manhood of those who volun- 
teered their services to defend their convictions of right and duty to 
their State. No better than thousands of their countrymen who 
adopted the same line of action, all equal to any soldiers of any 
army, in any time in the world's history. The legions of Cjesar, the 
grenadiers of Frederick, the old guard of Napoleon, the Queen's 
Guards, the Scotch Highlanders of Great Britain, were not their 
superiors. This is a high character for the Confederate soldier, but 
I make it deliberately with a full knowledge of its purport. More- 
over, this claim js being more and more recognized by the miHtary 
critics of the world. 

The field and staff of the Hampton Legion were Wade Hampton, 
colonel; B. J. Johnson, lieutenant colonel, and J. B. Grififin, major; 
adjutant, T. C. Barker ; quarter-master, Claude L. Goodwin ; com- 
missary, Thomas Beggs ; surgeon, John T. Darby ; assistant sur- 
geons, Benjamin W. Taylor and Henry W. Moore. 



On the death of Colonel Johnson, killed at the First Manassas, 
Major Griffin was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, 
assigned to the command of the infantry. Captain M. C. Butler, 
promoted to the rank of major, assigned to the command of the 
cavalry, a;nd Captain James Connor, promoted to the rank of major, 
and assigned to the infantry. 

Stephen D. Lee was captain of one battery of horse artillery and 
Captain W. K. Bachman the other. In the reorganization, or rather 
the separation of the three branches of the service, Captain M. 
W. Gary was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and 
assigned to the infantry, which retained the name, was subsequently 
increased to a regiment with Lieutenant Colonel Gary as colonel. 
The four troops by the addition of six troops was increased to a 
regiment and Major M. C. Butler was chosen colonel of what was 
afterwards known as the Second South Carolina Cavalry. Captain 
Stephen D. Lee was promoted, finally reaching the rank of lieutenant 
general. Lieutenant James F. Hart was made captain of the battery, 
and known afterwards as Hart's battery, and with Bachman's was 
assigned to different commands in the Army of Northern Virginia. 
The Hampton Legion furnished to the Confederate armies two 
lieutenant generals, one major general and three brigadier's As a 
general officer, General Hampton's staff consisted of Major T. G. 
Barker, Major H. B. McClellan, Colonel Thos. Taylor, Captain 
Rawlins Lowndes. Dr. B. W. Taylor and Major John S. Preston. 

Time will not permit me to follow these and the other officers 
of the original organization of the legion through the different 
grades and arms of the service. Suffice it to say they all flushed 
their maiden swords under the splendid leadership of General Hamp- 
ton, and, leaving the present speaker out of consideration, they all 
distinguished themselves as gallant, valiant soldiers in their respect- 
ive spheres of duty. 

Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Hampton Statue Commission, 
when I did myself the honor to accept your invitation to deliver the 
address of the occasion, I decided to devote the time allotted to me 
to a review of General Hampton's military record, and accordingly 
addressed a note to the accomplished military secretary of the 
army. Major F. C. Ainsworth, requesting such information as might 
be preserved in the records of the War Department at Washington. 
The following is his courteous reply, accompanied by the statement 
of the military service of Wade Hampton, C. S. A : 



19 

War Department, 
The Military Secretary's office. 
Washington, October 18, 1906. 
Gen. M. C. Butler, Woodlawn, S. C. 

My Dear General : In compliance with the request contained in 
your letter of the 15th inst., I have the honor to transmit herewith 
a statement of the military service of Wade Hampton in the Con- 
federate States army. It is proper to remark in this connection that 
honorable mention of his conduct on several occasions also appears 
in the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, and 
can be found by consulting the indexes to Volumes II., XL, XII., 
XIX., XXL, XXV., XXVIL, XXIX, XXXIIL, XXXVL, XL., 
XLVL, and XLVII. of said publication under the entry of his 
name. Very respectfully, F. C. Ainsworth, 

The Military Secretary. 

War Department, 
The Military Secretary's Office. 

Statement of the military service of Wade Hampton, C. S. A, : 

Colonel, Hampton Legion, South Carolina Volunteers, June 12, 
1861. 

Brigadier General, Provisional Army, Confederate States, May 
23, 1862. 

Major General, Provisional Army, Confederate States, August 
3, 1863. 

Lieutenant General, Provisional Army, Confederate States, Feb- 
ruary 14, 1865. 

Hampton's Career. 

Wade Hampton entered the military service of the Confederate 
States as colonel of the Hampton Legion, South Carolina Volun- 
teers, June 12. 1861, said legion consisting of eight companies of 
infantry, four companies of cavalry and two companies of artillery. 
With the infantry of his command. Col. Hampton participated in 
the first battle of Bull Run, Va., July 21, 1861, where he was 
wounded. He bore a part as a brigade commander in the subse- 
quent battle on the peninsula of Virginia, from the beginning of 
operation at Yorktown until the battle of Seven Pines, where he 
was again wounded. The composition of his brigade appears to 
have been as follows : Fourteenth and Nineteenth Georgia, Hamp- 
ton Legion, Sixteenth North Carolina and Moody's (Louisiana) 
batterv. 



fev.: 



20 

During the Seven Days' battles he was in temporary command O'f 
a brigade consisting of the Tenth, Twenty-third and Thirty-seventh 
Virginia infantry and Wooding's (Virginia) battery, but the records 
fail to show fully the names of the field and staff officers of those 
organizations at that time. 

On July 28, 1862, he was assigned to the command of a brigade 
of cavalry in the Army of Northern Virginia, with which he 
actively served under the command of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart in the 
operation in ^Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania, until wounded 
at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. 

From September 9, 1863, to August 11, 1864, he was in command 
of a division of cavalry operating in northern Virginia and in the 
ca,mpaign from the Wilderness to Richmond and Petersburg. 

On August 11, 1864, Maj. Gen. Hampton was assigned to 
the command of the cavalry of the Army of Northern A'irginia, 
with which he continued until late in January or early in February, 
1865. On February 7, 1865, he was assigned to command Butler's 
and Young's division of cavalry, in the department of South Carolina, 
Georgia and Florida, Lieut. Gen. Hardee commanding. (For copy 
of only order bearing on the subject of this assignment that has 
been found of record, see Official Records of the Union and Con- 
federate Armies, series 1, volume XLVH., part H., p. 1112.) He 
was engaged in resisting the advance of the Union army under 
Gen. Sherman through the Carolinas, and was present in the field 
at the time of the surrender of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army, 
but no record of his final capture or parole has been found. 

F. C. Ainsworth, 
The ?\Iilitary Secretary. 

War Department, 
The Military Secretary's Office. 

Washington, October IS, 1906. . 
There are two errors in the foregoing ; first, in saying on February 
7, 1865, General Hampton was assigned to the command of Butler's 
and Young's division of cavalry. It should be Butler's and 
Wheeler's division of cavalry. And second, in saying that General 
Hampton was present in the field at the time of the surrender of 
Gen. Jos. E. Johnston, as is shown by the following correspondence : 

Chester, 27 April. 1865. 
General York : Forward following dispatch by courier to 
Breckinridge. (Signed) William Preston Johnston. 



21 

Hon. J. C. Breckinridge, Company Shops : 

Some time ago I notified Gen. Johnston not to include me in any 
surrender. You gave me orders to move on (25th). In return I 
find army surrendered; think I am free. What is your decision? 
Answer here at Greensboro. Wade Hampton, 

Lieutenant General. 

Love's Ford, Broad River, 28th April, 1865. 
Lieutenant General Wade Hampton, Greensboro, Lexington, Salis- 
bury, or any other point on line : 
Your dispatches of 2?th received. The verbal directions to you 
contemplated your meeting Gen. Johnston and his action before any 
convention with enemy. If my letter to him of 2oth which you car- 
ried was not received before completion of terms, the government, 
with its imperfect knowledge of the facts, cannot interfere as to 
the body of the troops ; but in regard to yourself, if not present nor 
consenting, it is the opinion of the government that you and others 
in like condition are free to come out. John C. Breckinridge, 

Secretary of War. 

As a matter of fact, both General Hampton and General Wheeler 
left General Joseph E. Johnston's army before or after it reached 
Greensboro, X. C., and during the armistice agreed upon between 
Generals Johnston and Sherman, intending to make their way to the 
Trans-Mississippi and join Lieutenant General Kirby Smith in com- 
mand of the Confederate forces in that department. Proceeding 
as far as Charlotte, X. C, as I was informed at the time, they 
abandoned their purpose and returned to their homes. 

I speak advisedly on this point because, as the ranking cavalry 
officer in his army when the final terms /Of capitulation were agreed 
upon. General Johnston appointed me one of the commissioners to 
act with !Major General Hartzoff, appointed by General Sherman, 
to sign the muster rolls of all the Confederate cavalry present, and 
those rolls must be on file in the war records office in Washington. 

But, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I find it impossible in the time 
which I can properly occupy to do full justice to the brilliant militar\- 
record of General Hampton. This would require a volume. I will, 
therefore, have to limit myself to a few of the incidents of his career, 
leaving to his biographer a complete histon.- of his great achieve- 
ments, both military and civil, when time and opportunity will 
enable him to do full justice. 



23 

Permit me, in passing, to congratulate you in securing the services 
of so accomplished an artist and sculptor, for the design and com- 
pletion of this historic picture, and to congratulate him, Mr. Ruck- 
stuhl, on the taste and ability shown by him in his work. 

The appearance, the pose, the ornamentation, the artistic propor- 
tions, the likeness, the mounted attitude, are as near perfect as it 
seems to me human efforts and ingenuity can make them. I find 
the following inscriptions are engraved on the body of the monu- 
ment : 

West side : 

Erected by the State of South Carolina and Her Citizens to Wade 
Hampton. 

South Side: 

Governor of South Carolina 1876-1879. United States Senator 
1879-1891. 

Bentonville, Brandy Station, Sappony Church, Cold Harbor, 
Hawes' Shop. 

East side : 

Born March 18, 1818. Died April 11, 1902. Erected A. D. 1906. 

North Side: 

Commander of Hampton Legion, C. S. A. 

Trevilian, Seven Pines, Burgess' Mill, First Manassas, Gettys- 
burg. 

The names refer to the battles in which General Hampton took a 
prominent part. 

Other Great Battles. 

These inscriptions are historically correct, but limited in the num- 
bers of events in which General Hampton bore a conspicuous part. 
Necessarily, from want of space, they convey a very faint idea of 
his four years' military servifce. We might appropriately add, with- 
out doing violence to the truth of history, Sharpsburg, Barbees' 
Cross Roads, Martinsburg, night attack on Dahlgreen's column near 
Richmond, McDowell's Farm, where the gallant General John Duno- 
vant was killed and his body committed to the care of my gallant 
courier boy, U. R. Brooks, who frequently acted as one of my staff 
officers ; Armstrong's Mill, Hick's Ford, Reams' Station, night 
attack on Kilpatrick's camp in North Carolina, Fayetteville, N. C. 
What an army of fierce cavalry conflicts arise in my mind as I 
attempt to enumerate the few just mentioned. I have been often 
asked if General Hampton was a good tactician. If, in a minor 
technical sense, I answer to the best of my judgment, "No," I 



2a 

doubt if he ever read a technical book on tactics. He had no need 
to. He was himself master of grand tactics. He knew how to 
manoLiver the units of his command so as to occupy for offensive 
or defensive action the strongest points on the battle field, and that 
is about all there is in tactics. A successful strategist has a 
broader field for the employment of his military qualities. General 
Hampton appeared possessed of almost an instinctive topographical 
talent. He could take in the strong strategic points in the field of 
his operations with an accuracy of judgment that was surprising to 
his comrades. It was not necessary for him to study Jomine Na- 
poleon's Campaigns, and other high authorities in the art of war. 
He was a law unto himself on. such matters. According to the 
rules laid down in the books, he would do the most unmilitary 
things. He would hunt his antagonist as he would hunt big game 
in the forest. The celerity and audacity of his movements against 
the front, sometimes on the flank, then again in the rear, kept his 
enemies in a constant state of uncertainty and anxiety as to wher<? 
and when they might expect him. With his wonderful powers of 
physical endurance, his alert, vigilant mind, his matchless horse- 
manship, no obstacles seemed to baffle his audacity or thwart his 
purpose. Again leaving myself out of the question, General Hamp- 
ton was most fortunate in selecting his lieutenants, Rosser and 
Young, two of his brigade commanders. Young in years, superb 
in physical and metal equipment, bold, daring, undismayed by the 
formidable fighting qualities and forces of their antagonist, they 
would make a field marshal of any superior officer worthy of that 
rank as General Hampton was. 

General J. E. B. Stuart, the splendid dashing corps commander, 
was killed in the battle at Yellow Tavern on the 12th of May, 1864. 

The cavalry corps of the Army of Northern Virginia consisted 
of three divisions — Hampton's, Fitz Lee's and Wm, F. Lee's. 
General Hampton was the ranking major general and was by right 
of superior rank, long, faithful and brilliant service, to succeed 
Stuart in command of the corps. From some inexplicable reason, 
General Lee did not at once assign him to that command, but re- 
quired each division commander to report directly to army head- 
quarters. And now comes the crucial point in General Hampton's 
military career. Early in June, 1864, General Grant had put in 
operation one of those grand combinations by which he hoped to 
circumvent and finally destroy his alert and great antagonists. 
Hunter, at the head of a strong column of infantry, was making his 



way up the Shenandoah valley, with Lynchburg his objective point. 
Early was sent to Lynchburg to meet him. Sheridan was dispatchec? 
with his cavalry and horse artillery from Grant's right towards Gor- 
dons ville, en route, as it was supposed, to form a junction with 
Hunter and approach Richmond from the rear. Almost simulta- 
neously Wilson was sent from Grant's left with two divisions of 
cavalry and the usual complement of horse artillery to break Gen- 
eral Lee's communications in that direction by tearing up the South- 
side railroad and other sources of supply for the army. 

General Grant was meantime to keep up his hammering process 
against General Lee's lines with the main body of his army. This 
was the situation on the 8th of June, 1864, apparently desperate, as 
it would have been to any other than the marvelous military genius, 
Robert E. Lee. Let me pause to offer another communication from 
General Ainsworth, in reply to an inquiry from me as to Sheridan's 
strength at that time, as follows : 

War Department. 
The Military Secretary's Office. 
Washington, November 8, 1906. 
Gen. M. C. Butler, Woodlawn. S. C. 

My Dear General: Iti response to your letter of the 5th inst., in 
which you ask to be furnished with a statement of the strength of 
General Sheridan's command at Trevilian Station, Va., June 11 and 
12, 1864. I have the honor to advise as follows : 

Nothing has been found of record to show the actual strength 
of the Union forces engaged on the occasion mentioned, but the 
official reports of General Sheridan and his subordinate commanders, 
containing detailed accounts of the engagement, are printed in the 
"Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies," Series 1, 
Volume XXXVL, Part 1. pp. 787-90-2. 

A field return of the Army of the Potomac for June 1, 1/^64, 
which appears on page 209, ibid., shows an aggregate present for 
duty in the cavalry corps commanded by General Sheridan of 12,420. 
As already stated, the number of men carried into action on June 
11 and 12, 1864, has not been found of record, nor is there any 
return of strength on file bearing date between June 1 and June 11, 
1864. Very respectfully, F. C. Ainsworth, 

The Military Secretary. 

General Hampton was placed in command of two divisions, his 
own, consisting of Butler's (the Fourth. Fifth and Sixth South 
Carolina) cavalry, Rosser's and Young's, the latter commanded by 



25 

Colonel J. G. Wright, colonel of the Cobb legion, and Fitz Lee's 
division, consisted of the brigades of Lomax and Wickham. 

Work op the Scouts. 

We could probably have mustered 5,000 men, all told, on the 
morning of the 8th of June, 1864, when we received orders to have 
prepared "three days' cooked rations" and ready for "extended 
mounted service." That body of valiant, sleepless, dare-devil cavalry 
scouts headed by Shadburne, Dick Hogan, Hugh Scott, Wallace 
Miller, Lieutenant Bob Shiver, Jack Schoolbred, Walker Russell, 
Phil Hvitchinson and others, brought information to headquarters 
of Sheridan's movements. On the morning of June 9 Hampton's 
column moved, heading for Gordoiisville in following order : Ros- 
ser's, Butler's, Young's brigades in front, Fitz Lee with Lomax and 
Wickam in the rear. On the night of June 10 we bivouaced Hamp- 
ton's division near Trevilian Station, Fitz Lee's in the neighborhood 
of Louisa Court House, several miles in the rear. General Hamp- 
ton's plan was to form a junction with Fitz Lee at Clayton's Store, 
near the South Anna River. On the morning of the 11th of June, 
our vigilant scouts meantime keeping us informed of Sheridan's 
movements, it turned out that he was moving in strong column 
■against the position occupied by Butler's brigade. We were up, 
prepared for mounted action at daylight, in obedience to orders of 
the day before. About a half hour after sunrise. General Hampton 
directed me to move in and attack vigorously, informing me that he 
would hold Young's brigade in reserve for emergencies ; that Rosser, 
as I knew, was a short distance to our left on the Gordonsville road, 
and Fitz Lee's division would join me on the right. This disposition 
left a feeling of security to the flanks of the brigade. We were in 
a thickly wooded country unfit for mounted operations, consequently 
we dismounted everything except one squadron, and opened the 
attack on foot with our long range Enfield rifles, and drove the 
enemy a half mile or more, all the time expecting to hear Lee's 
guns on our right. Our left flank was about to be turned, when 
Young's brigade was sent in to reinforce it. For some reason 
which I have never understood or had explained, Lee's division did 
not take position, as I was assured it w^ould. The result was Custer, 
of Sheridan's command, cut around my right, by a blind road which 
he discovered, got into our rear, and captured some of our led 
horses and ambulances. We were still struggling m the ^woods 
with Sheridan's main line, when Rosser came thundering down the 
road, charged Custer, recaptured what he had taken, and captured a 



26 

number of prisoners, ambulances, horses, etc., from Custer. The 
day's fight could not have been satisfactory to either side. There 
appeared to be a want of co-operation on our side which led to con- 
fusion. And Sheridan was no doubt surprised at the stubborn re- 
sistance he had encountered in the woods from the splendid soldiers 
behind Enfield rifles. The next Sunday, June 12, General Hampton 
directed me to take command of his division, so that he could devote 
his undivided attention to both divisions, instructing me to take 
position on the railroad. Accordingly our line was located on the 
crest of a hill with gradual slope in front, the line stretching to 
the left, so as to get the advantage of the railroad embankment, 
where the line made rather a sharp angle. The Sixth South Carolina 
Cavalry occupied this angle. A letter from General Hampton to 
Comrade Calhoun is as follows. This letter, dated July 20, 1902, 
reads: 

My Dear Calhoun : It would give me great pleasure to accept 
your invitation, for I should like to meet my old comrades once 
more. I remember the heroic manner in which the Sixth regiment 
held the "Bloody Angle" at Trevilian, and I should like to thank the 
survivors as well as all of my old command, but I fear I shall not 
be able to attend the reunion at Greenwood, for I have been quite 
unwell for some time past ; but should I be unable to greet mv old 
comrades, let them be assured that they are held in affectionate 
remembrance and that their services are recalled with pride. With 
my best wishes for them and yourself. Truly yours, 

Wade Hampton. 

C. M. Calhoun, Greenwood, S. C. 

Sheridan now moved up to attack us about 2 o'clock p. m., and 
from then until dark made seven determined assaults upon our posi- 
tion. He again felt the force of the stubborn gallantry of the men 
behind the Enfields and about dark began his retreat back, to 
Grant's lines. Lee's division came in late in the afternoon of the 
12th and took position on our extreme left. 

I fear, my countrymen, I have fatigued you with details, and the 
reluctant use I have made of the personal pronoun "I," but our rela- 
tions, military and civil, were so intervvoven it has seemed to me 
almost inevitable. I justify these details as to Trevilian, and yet I 
have not told the half, for I know you realize with me the vital im- 
portance of General Sheridan's defeat there, the vital importance 
of the defense of Richmond, and, in fact, the security of General 
Lee's armv, that this link in General Grant's combination should be 



27 

broken, the vital importance to General Hampton's military career 
that he should succeed. He did so with great odds against him, 
almost three to one, odds commanded and handled by one of the most 
resourceful and ablest cavalry soldiers in the Federal Armies. 
Thenceforward General Hampton was one of General Lee's most 
trusted and confidential lieutenants. Trevilian, one of the greatest, 
most fiercely contested, all-round cavalry battles of the Army of 
Northern Virginia — if not of any army — was an object lesson for 
General Lee in estimating the high military and personal worth of 
General Hampton. 

Lee and Hampton Alike. 

There were many points of resemblance in the characters of these 
two great men. Both were superb in their physical pose and de- 
velopment. Both were self-respecting and respectful and gracious 
in their demeanor towards others. Both had their 'faculties under 
complete control. Both inspired the confidence and affection of 
their fellow-man. Both were the highest type of gentlemen, and 
both will "live in the 'hearts of their countrymen" as long as great 
talents and great services to their country and great characters are 
honored and Tespected among men. Allow me now to relate an 
incident of the battle of Burgess' Mill which unfolds another quality 
of General Hampton's character. General Grant, in the latter part 
of October, 1864, had dispatched the Second Army Corps, as he 
always did when there was a movement requiring skill and ability, 
under Hancock, "the Superb," as he was justly styled, by all who 
knew him, to make a bold and determined effort to turn General 
Lee's left. 

The cavalry was guarding the lines along the Rowanty River. 
When Hancock pushed out in force, our thin lines were withdrawn 
and moved up to Burgess' Mill. I took position on the west side 
of an open field ; the left resting at Burgess' Mill pond. My orders 
from General Hampton were that when the guns of Wni. H. F. 
Lee's division were on my right we should move forward and attack 
a division of Hancock's infantry on the far side of the field. My 
temporary headquarters were at the corner of a garden and an 
orchard. We were dismounted behind such breastworks as could 
be improvised on short notice, and the command "forward" ex- 
tended all along our line ; the gallant boys dashed forward, firing as 
they advanced, in a 'heavy galling fire from the enemy. Shortly 
afterwards I witnessed a scene that would adorn the canvas of an 
artist. Some distance to the right I saw Major T. G. Barker, 



28 

adjutant general of the division, Lieutenant Preston Hampton, aide- 
de-camp to his father, and Lieutenant O. N. Butler, aide-de-camp 
to his brother, riding in the line of battle first advanced firing and 
receiving a terrific fire from the enemy, waving their hats by way of 
encouragement to the dismounted line. Of course, they had no 
business in such a perilous position, especially on horseback, but 
there they were, resolutely and fearlessly taking the chances of life 
under such hazardous circumstances. The roar of battle made it 
impossible for • them to hear a verbal order. Nat Butler, I pre- 
sume, feeling some anxiety for his brother, looked back. As I 
waved my hand to him to return, he galloped around in front of the 
garden, his horse receiving a shot in the neck. Preston turned to the 
right to join his father, whose headquarters were a few hundred 
yards to our right rear. As he turned he shouted. "Hurrah, Nat," 
the last words that escaped his lips, and was shot in the left groin, 
from which he died almost instantly. Having fallen from his horse, 
I noticed a group to our right gathered around some object, and as 
Major Barker had not returned, feared he had received a wound 
and was disabled. I turned my horse and met General Hampton 
near the Burgess dam. I inquired who was wounded. I can never 
forget his expression of anguish and distress as he drew his hand 
across his forehead, and replied, "Poor Preston !" "Is he dan- 
gerously wounded?" I inquired. "Yes, mortally." Near where we 
were talking he noticed a one-horse wagon under a shed. He turned 
and said, "Butler, I wish you would have that wagon pulled around 
and have his body moved out of the range of fire." Wiping away 
the tears of his pathetic affliction, he returned to his post of duty and 
remained in command until the battle ended at nightfall with Han- 
cock driven back. 

The couriers soon carried out his request. His comrade that day, 
Nat Butler, survived Preston, having a few months afterwards 
received a wound in battle that required the amputation of his arm, 
a wound from which he never recovered until his death many years 
ago. Here were two boys not out of their teens — handsome, hope- 
ful — bearing themselves with a splendid dash and courage worthy of 
any age of the best soldier as in any army. 

One more incident of that battle I am sure will interest you. The 
friends and comrades of Major Barker, Gen. Hampton and myself 
among the number, had decided to have him appointed brigadier 
general, a rank he had so worthily earned by his long, brilliant and 
faithful service on the stafif. Shortlv after the tragic scene I have 



29 

just described, Lieut. Col. Jeffords, of the Fifth South CaroHna 
Cavalry, was brought out by the litter-bearers dead from a mortal 
wound. This left that gallant regiment without a field officer. 
Maj. Barker volunteered to take command of the regiment. Of 
course, consent was given, and on his way to join the regiment he 
was shot down in the open field, and, as we feared, mortally wounded, 
but here he is in our midst to enjoy the respect and admiration of his 
friends. In my judgment, this wound defeated his deserved prorno- 
tion. 

Passing from Gen. Hampton's transfer from the Army of North- 
ern Virginia, the latter part of January, 1865, we find him a lieuten- 
ant general, assigned to the command of Wheeler's and Butler's 
divisions of cavalry, a command which he retained until the sur- 
render. 

There have been so many conflicting, untruthful and imaginary 
accounts published of Columbia, permit me to give in as few words 
as possible, the facts relating to the military evacuation of that 
doomed city and the part played by Gen. Hampton and the troops 
under his immediate command. For a time it was undetermined 
where Sherman would cross the Congaree River, whether lower 
down at a lower ferry and other crossings, or continue his march on 
the west side to Columbia. Butler was, therefore, ordered with two 
brigades of Wheeler's division and a part of his own to make a 
reconnoissance down the old Charleston road and across Congaree 
Creek. This movement, after a sharp encounter with the head of 
Sherman's column some distance below Congaree Creek, developed 
that he was approaching Columbia on the west side. This was on 
the 14th of February, 1865. The remnants of Hood's army, of 
which Wheeler's cavalry was a part, had fortified the Lexington 
hills, and on the information thus' obtained moved to the east side 
of the river across the covered bridge. After the other commands 
had passed, Butler and the troops under his command crossed the 
bridge and set fire to it. He was then ordered below Columbia to 
Granby, and from that position with Wheaton's battery opened fire 
on Sherman's column and forced it to make a detour to the left 
through the Lexington hills. A strong detachment of Sherman's 
infantry was posted along the west banks of the Congaree and a 
spirited combat was kept up for some time between the contending 
forces, during which the battery suffered rather severely in horses 
and men. Being without infantry support, the battery was with- 
drawn. These were the only instances, comparatively insignificant 



30 

in themselves, when armed resistance was made to Sherman's ap- 
proach to Cohunbia. 

Sherman Burned Columbia. 

Meantime, that venerable gentleman citizen, Dr. A. D. Goodwin, 
as mayor of the city, had a conference with Sherman under a flag 
of truce. On the assurance from the mayor that there would be no 
resistance to his crossing the river and entrance into the city. Gen. 
Sherman assured him there would be no hostile act on his part. On 
these facts being communicated to Gen. Hampton, he placed me in 
command of the city, with instructions to see that the mayor's agree- 
ment was faithfully and rigidly carried out. I appointed Capt. 
James P. McFie, a most accomplished, prudent and experienced 
officer, provost marshal of the town, with full instructions as to the 
agreement. It requires no assurance on my part that lie carried out 
his instructions with painstaking care and ability. As is usual on 
such occasions, such of the Confederate stores as could not be re- 
moved were destroyed at the old South Carolina Railroad station, 
a mile, perhaps, from the residence and business portion of the city. 
During the day and night of the 16th of February, all the troops had 
left in the direction of Charlotte, N. C, as that was supposed to be 
Sherman's objective point, except Butler's division. On the night 
of the 17th, Gen. Hampton had a conference at the house of Gen. 
John S. Preston, on Blanding street, at which every precaution was 
taken to evacuate the city as quietly as possible. Having been 
charged with the duty of personally superintending the movement, 
early on the morning of the 17th, Gen. Hampton left with Young's 
brigade of my division on the Winnsboro road. With the other bri- 
gade I passed up Sumter street from near the State House into Main 
street, and was posted at the crest of the street where the United 
States Court House now stands, and from that point witnessed Sher- 
man's troops deploying through Cotton Town (having crossed- the 
river in flat boats above) moving down Main street. In Sumter 
street a large quantity of cotton was piled in bales in the middle of 
the street for several blocks towards Blanding. This cotton was 
left iiitact by the Confederates. After waiting until after Sherman's 
advance had approached within a few hundred yards of where I was 
seated on horseback, we moved slowly down Laurel street towards 
the Charlotte depot. Not a shot was fired. Reaching the Charlotte 
depot we moved out into Taylor's lane. There I faced the column 
about and at the point where the railroad crosses Plain street re- 
mained perhaps an hour and witnessed from that point, and a point 



31 

somewhat in advance of it, the party with United States flag hurry 
down Main street to the State House. Thence we moved out 
leisurely by Dent's Mill, through the pine woods to Killian's, where 
we bivouacked the ni^ht of the 17th. As I have stated. Gen. Hamp- 
ton had left the city at least three hours before the rear guard left. 
No cotton was burning at that hour ; in fact, no fire was set except as 
I have stated, at the South Carolina Railroad depot, and in that case 
it was applied to the Confederate stores, so anxious were we not 
to commit an}- act that might be an excuse for retribution. I rode 
with the rear guard of the brigade and personally saw to it that 
nothing was done of a hostile character. And yet Gen. Sherman 
felt justified afterwards in saying that Gen. Hampton foolishly set 
fire to his own city. Nothing was further from the truth. It was 
reported that Gen. Sherman admitted it was not true and that he 
had made the charge to discredit Gen. Hampton with hi? own 
people. How little Gen. Sherman understood the character of Gen. 
Hampton's "people," and how unfortunate for Gen. Sherman that 
he S'hould resort to falsehood tO' impair the reputation and character 
of an honorable antagonist. We could have assembled at or near 
Columbia or above between 30,000 and -iO,000 veteran soldiers, early 
in February, 1865. Hardie, with 11,000, estimated, in Charleston, 
Bragg, with 10,000 in North Carolina, the remnant of Hood's army, 
including Wheeler's division of cavalry, and Butler's division. If 
they had been thus concentrated and Hampton placed in command, 
my firm conviction is that Sherman would have had to contest every 
inch of his ground at the point of the bayonet in his march from the 
sea. As he had to "live on the country," destroying what he could 
not consume, he would have been compelled to retrace his steps to 
the sea, and a large scope of country in the Carolinas devastated by 
his army, leaving in its wake houseless chimneys, starving women 
and children, might have been spared. I know how easy it is to 
criticise and I express this opinion without intending reproach to 
any one, because it is possible that we were wanting in supplies to 
maintain such an army at such a time, and, therefore, the concentra- 
tion was not made Until at Bentonville, when it was too late to expect 
satisfactory results. And it may be unprofitable to revert to it now 
except to show my appreciation of Gen. Hampton's military abilities. 
The Duke of Alva was a military vandal of the fifteenth century. 
In his "Rise of the Dutch Republic," Motley says of him, "Such an 
amount of stealth and ferocity of patient vindictiveness and universal 



32 

blood-thirstiness has never been found in a savage beast of the forest 
and but rarely in a human being." 

History sometimes repeats itself. Gen. Hampton was as incapable? 
of an act of vandalism, cruelty or oppression as he was of falsehood, 
cowardice or revenge. He did not make war a hell, and his chivalric 
nature would have revolted at cruelty to the innocent and helpless as 
he would to turn his back to an enemy wath arms in his hands. 

The Duke of Alva has come down through five centuries hissed at 
in history for his bloody atrocities, and scorned at ,as relentlessly 
to-day as during his disgraceful, unsoldierly career. Gen. Hampton 
will live through the centuries to come and be revered to the last for 
his humanity in war and his exalted character in peace. With the 
long list of South Carolina's eminent men, it is worthy of note in 
passing that this is the first time the Legislature of the State has 
appropriated money out of the treasury to be supplemented by contri- 
butions from the public to erect a monument to one of them — an 
appropriation graciously and properly made with the private contri- 
butions. 

In my judgment, the Legislature w'ould be justified in taking 
another step and provide by appropriation a monument to the 
immortal Calhoun in the "Hall of Fame" in the national capitol, as 
representing the highest and best type of American statesmanship, 
and another for Hampton in the same hall, as illustrating the highest 
and best type of military greatness. In doing this, I believe the 
representatives of the people would deserve and receive their appro- 
val. 

I fear, my countrymen. I have already trespassed too long on your 
time and patience. Allow me to conclude by reading to you an 
extract from the proceedings of the nominating convention of July 
12. 1876. The convention then went into secret session. That 
session lasted from 11.30 in the morning till 6.30 in the evening, with 
a recess of about half an hour for dinner. 

At the close of the discussion the doors Avere thrown open and 
it was annonnced that the following had been adopted by a vote of 
82 to 65 : 

"Resolved, That this convention do now proceed to nominate can- 
didates for Governor and other State ofiBcers." 

Hampton, The Statesman. 

Gen. Butler nominated Gen. Wade Hampton for Governor. Mr. 
Robert Aldrich seconded the nomination. Gen. Hampton ascended 
the speaker's stand and said : 



33 

"Mr. President and g-entlemen : I need not tell you that the words 
of kindly allusion to myself which I have heard spoken have deeply 
touched my heart. But I desire to say a few words in personal 
explanation. I have all along refrained from expressing my 
opinion in one way or another, except when called upon to do so as 
a delegate. I have not tried to influence this convention in word or 
deed. I came here only to pour oil on the troubled waters if neces- 
sary, and to promote unity and harmony, if I could. In the card I 
published in the Columbia Register, the other day, I expressed my 
opinions fully and earnestly. When the war was raging I was asked 
to come here and allow my name tO' be used as a candidate for 
Governor, but I preferred to stay where I thought I could do the 
most good for my State and my country ; and since the war I have 
never offered one word of advice unless it was asked of me. I felt 
that my day was passed, and that in returning to my native State I 
was like him who said : 'An old man whose heart is broken is come to 
lay his weary bones among you. Give me a little earth for charity.' 
I have claimed nothing from South Carolina but a grave in yonder 
churchyard. But I have always said that if I could ever serve her 
by word or deed, her men had only to call me and I would devote 
all my time, my energy and my life to her service. 

"I will now be perfectly unreserved with you on another point. 
Men whose patriotism is beyond question and in whose wisdom I 
have great confidence, think that my nomination would injure the 
Democratic party of the United States. If it were left with me to 
decide between that party and the interests of South Carolina, I 
would not hesitate in my choice. But I believe the success of the 
Democratic party of the United States will bring success to South 
Carolina, and that if Tilden is elected we can call South Carolina 
our own. Now, I do not wish to embarrass the gentlemen of the 
convention, nor to jeopardize the general Democratic party. I 
would, indeed, gladly decline the nomination. Besides this, there 
are men in South Carolina who think I possess a disqualification of 
which I cannot divest myself, and would not if I could. I mean 
what they call my war record. That is the record of 50,000 South 
Carolina soldiers, and if I am to forfeit that and say that I am 
ashamed to have been one of them, all the offices in the world might 
perish before I would accept them. 

"These are grave topics, gentlemen, and I implore you to look over 
the whole field and not let any kindness for me lead you astray. I 
will now retire, so that you may discuss them freely. If you decide 



34 

to nominate some other as true and sincere as I, and I know there 
are thousands of them, I will devote myself to secure his election. 
Come weal or come woe, I am with you to the last." 

The following were then chosen by acclamation : 

For Secretary of State — R. M. Sims, of York. 

For Attorney General — James Conner, of Charleston. 

For Superintendent of Education — Hugh S. Thompson, of Rich- 
land. 

For Comptroller General — ^Gen. Johnson Hagood, of Barnwell. 

For Treasurer — S. L. Leaphart, of Richland. 

For Adjutant General — E. W. Moise, of Sumter. 

Of all who entered the State House with Gen. Hampton on the 
April 11, 1877, only three survive, Gen. Hampton's orderly in war 
and trusted private secretary in '76-'79, Col. Wade H. Manning; 
Mr. McBride C. Robertson, clerk to Secretary of State R. M. Sims, 
and the venerable Mr. J. I. Laval, of the State Treasurer's office. 

At 3 o'clock p. m. on the 14th of December, 1876, the Speaker 
of the House and its officers with the Senators present, proceeded to 
the platform in front of Carolina Hall, in the city of Columbia, when 
Wade Hampton, the Governor-elect, delivered the address and the 
constitutional oath of office was administered by the Hon. Thos. J. 
Mackey, one of the Judges of the State of South Carolina, and J. Q. 
Marshall, Esq., to Wade Hampton, Esq., as Governor of the State 
of South Carolina, and W. D. Simpson, Esq., as Lieutenant Gover- 
nor of the State of South Carolina. 

This is what may be properly termed as the beginning of Gen. 
Hampton's great civic career. That career is too familiar to you 
all to require any detailed reference on my part, if time and my 
strength and my powers permitted. His speech of acceptance of 
the nomination for the high office of Governor contains sentiments 
and pledges which he need not have made, we all know how faith- 
fully, courageously and ably he fulfilled them. 

A word to the young men of the present and future generations : 
If you will read the military orders, letters, messages as Governor, 
speeches to the people, and in the United States Senate of Gen. 
Hampton, you will find them filled with exalted sentiments couched 
in expression singularly replete with simple and classic language, 
and adorned with unerring judgment. 

Speaking for myself, having passed the limit in human life of 
three score years and ten, and for these sturdy veterans, lingering in 



35 

the lap of time after duty to country, and I trust duty to God, well 
performed, we can ask no higher place in the hearts of our country- 
men than to be remembered as the comrades in war and associates in 
peace of Wade Hampton, the honored and revered soldier and states- 
man of our times. 



36 



Extract from a Letter to President Andrew Johnson, 
Which Shows the High Order of Intellect of the 
Great Southern Warrior. 

In the first volume of a very recent work by Prof. Walter L,. 
Fleming-, Ph. D., of the University of West Virginia, entitled 
"Documentary History of Reconstruction," appear four extracts 
from a letter of Gen. Wade Hampton to President Andrew John- 
son, which has never been published before. The work is just 
from the press and is indispensable to every student of the Re- 
constructioji era. 

Dr. Fleming is an Alabamian whose work in the history of his 
own State and whose studies of the origin and conduct of the Ku 
Klux Klan are notable achievements of American scholarship and 
historical research. 

An autog-raph copy of General Hampton's letter to President 
Johnson is in the possession of Mr. Thomas C. Thompson, of Chat- 
tanooga, and another copy is owned by a me;nber of the Hampton 
family in Columbia, but the original letter did not become available 
for Prof. Fleming's use until the recent purchase of President 
Johnson's correspondence by the United States government for 
$20,000. 

The letter covers a variet}^ of topics, including the South's accept- 
ance of the situation ; a Southern opinion of the "Johnson govern- 
ments ; that "hydra-headed monster, the freedmen's bureau," and 
the horror and detestation with which the South viewed the barba- 
rous treatment and imprisonment of President Davis. 

Prof. Fleming quotes General Hampton as follows regarding 
his opinion of "the Johnson governments:" 

MS. LETTER OF WADE HAMPTON TO ANDREW JOHN- 
SON (1866). 

Having acceded to the terms laid down by your Excellency, they 
supposed that they would be restored to all their rights as citizens 
of the United States and they believed fully — whether justly or 
not — that they were entitled to receive these rights, their allegiance 
to the government being renewed and all their duties to it being 
* * * exacted, but the construction which the South places upon 



37 

the covenant which had been made seems not to have been the one 
received by the authorities at Washington, for no sooner had the 
South conformed to the terms of your proclamation than other con- 
ditions were imposed. * * =)= First, she found all her State au- 
thorities set aside — her Governors imprisoned — ^her Legislatures 
broken up — her judiciary suppressed — her press muzzled — her tem- 
ples closed — all by the arbitrary hand of military power. Then 
came the appointment of presidential governors, an anomaly here- 
tofore unknown in a government composed of States which were 
once supposed to possess some, at least, of the attributes of sov- 
ereignty. By the exercise of an authority * * * — 'whence derived 
has never been clearly explained — these presidential governors 
called conventions in their several States and new legislatures were 
ordered to be chosen. These conventions — once the highest tribunals 
recognized by sovereign States, the great high courts of a free people 
— ^met, registered the decrees framed at Washington and disap- 
peared. After an existence as inglorious as it was brief, "unwept, 
unhonored and unsung," each convention was followed by its own 
bastard olTspring, the legislature of its creation, a political "nnllius 
filius" — a body somewhat "after the order of Melchesidec, without 
father, without mother, without descent," fit successors of most un- 
honored predecessors. I speak of these bodies in their political and 
collective capacity, not of the individuals composing them, for that 
these latter were actuated in most instances by the highest patriot- 
ism is evidenced by the fact that for the sake of the country they 
consented to serve in Mr. Seward's legislatures. When these legis- 
latures met in what was literally "extraordinary session," what a 
spectacle was presented ! In these halls where once the free repre- 
sentatives of sovereign States were wont to discuss the highest ques- 
tions of polity, all subjects were strictly tabooed save such as were 
dictated from Washington, and it required no great stretch of 
imagination tO' fancy that one heard in the votes but the echoes of 
Mr. Seward's "little bell." The telegraph lines offered a ready 
means by which that manipulator could use to its fullest extent his 
"judicious admixture of pressure and persuasion," and under this 
new but convenient system the proceedings of the legislatures con- 
sisted solely in recording the dicta of the supreme justice in 
Washington. 



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